Valley Water Standard Grants - Stewardship Grants

The Valley Water Standard Grants - Stewardship Grants program provides $1.87 million in funding for projects aimed at enhancing safe, clean drinking water, water conservation, and environmental stewardship in Santa Clara County. This initiative supports diverse community efforts including pollution cleanups, habitat restoration, and educational programs, requiring a 15% matching contribution. Open to public agencies and nonprofit organizations, it empowers local communities to tackle pressing water and environmental challenges effectively.

Standard Grants Program
The Standard Grants Program supports projects that promote safe, clean drinking water, water conservation, flood protection, and environmental stewardship in Santa Clara County. This program offers $1.87 million in funding for diverse project types that serve residents, empowering communities to address local water and environmental challenges through education, planning, and stewardship.
Whether you are a public agency, government entity, nonprofit organization, or educational institution, this program provides the financial resources needed to create meaningful impacts.
Stewardship grants provide funds for a wide variety of projects that will advance Safe, Clean Water Program priorities and support Valley Water’s mission. The Stewardship Grant opportunity is Valley Water’s broadest grant category and can encompass many different activities and multi-benefit elements related to Valley Water’s mission. These projects must demonstrate public benefits and require a 15% funding match.
Activities could include smaller-scale implementation projects such as litter/pollution cleanups, community gardens, minor habitat restoration (under 5 acres), minor construction of structures/facilities, or alteration/improvement to existing facilities (such as structures, walls, small park amenities, museum exhibits, etc.).
Under the Stewardship Grant category, projects with educational or planning elements that include implementation activities, such as soil removal, small-scale construction, and plantings, can apply.
Proposed Stewardship Grant projects must demonstrate support for Valley Water’s mission. Example projects may include, but are not limited:
Water conservation projects that provide, enhance, or install innovative water conservation technologies in public spaces, such as parks, gardens, government facilities, schools, utility facilities, and community buildings.Pollution prevention projects that reduce contaminants, including emerging contaminants, in surface or groundwater, such as public education and technical assistance to help growers protect groundwater and keep agricultural pollutants away from surface water, and partnerships to reduce litter and graffiti.Volunteer cleanup and stewardship projects that support creek cleanup and litter removal, or that provide hands-on watershed stewardship activities.Small-scale wildlife habitat projects that support, restore, and/or conserve native plant and wildlife habitat; protecting special status species; removing non-native/invasive plant species; and planting native species.
Match Requirement
Matching funds of fifteen percent (15%) are required for Stewardship Grants.
Matching funds may include staff hours, cash or in-kind services, other non-Valley Water grants, or partnerships with other organizations.Matching funds must not include other Valley Water resources, such as grants, volunteer programs, supplies, contracts, agreements, etc.To calculate the in-kind value of volunteer hours, please use the Independent Sector’s estimated hourly rate for volunteer time. In 2023, the California volunteer value was estimated at $38.61 per hour, per person. Please visit the website here:

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants:Local cities, towns, and county agencies.Local nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.Water agencies/districts (public, not-for-profit)Open space, resource conservation, and special districts.Schools, community colleges, and colleges/universities (public, not-for-profit)Eligible Projects:Stewardship Grants are for community projects with smaller-scale implementation activities focusing on water and watershed stewardship.Examples include litter/pollution cleanups, water conservation, community gardens, minor habitat restoration (under 5 acres), minor construction of structures/facilities, or alteration/improvement to existing facilities. Projects must demonstrate a strong focus on at least one of the following Safe, Clean Water Program priorities: Safe, clean drinking water and water conservation.Environmental stewardship.Flood risk reduction.Projects must be located within Santa Clara County and benefit residents of Santa Clara County.Eligible Applicants may seek grant funding for more than one project; however, Valley Water will only award one grant per project.

Ineligibility

Ineligible Projects:Projects that do not have an implementation element.Project with activities that:Require the use of onsite heavy machinery or construction equipment beyond hand tools, such as excavators, graders, compactors, backhoes, cranes, dump trucks, pile drivers, etc.Would involve the release of runoff, debris, and/or waste materials into existing waterways (rivers, creeks, ponds, riparian habitat, etc.).May involve ground disturbance (i.e., soil removal, vegetation removal, construction, excavation) within sensitive biological habitats, including wetlands, riparian lands, or waterways.If your project includes any ineligible conditions above, consider whether it should be considered an Implementation Grant. Contact Grants Program staff if you have questions or need assistance.Projects with advocacy or political components, including political endorsements, petitions, fundraising, or any other activity directed toward the success or failure of a political party, candidate, political office, or political group. Projects and/or deliverables that are inaccessible to the general public or require mandatory participation payment or fees. Mitigation projects.Projects designed to meet regulatory or permit obligations (unless grant funding is for project activities above and beyond required activities).Operations and maintenance of existing mitigation or enhancement projects.Operations and maintenance of existing projects, programs, or Applicant’s general ongoing and day-to-day operations.Land acquisition, unless parcel(s) or title acquired will be specifically deemed for use in habitat or species restoration or protection.